Spring-wheel.



T. W. HAWLEY.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1913.

1,1 03,045. Patented Julv 14, 1914.

- Mum W01 TW. LEY

TI-IORN'IQN WOOIDROW HAWLEY, 01E OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Paiggfltgd July 1%, 1914.,

Application filed March 24, 1913. Serial No. 756,529.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, THORNTON lVooonow l-lAw nY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful improvements inSpring-VVheels, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in springwheels and has for a primary object to provide a spring wheel which willbe of extremely simple construction and highly efficient in use andwhich will be composed of connected tire supporting plates which havetheir opposite ends hinged to inner rim plates through which theplungers project with the coil spring engaged therearound forresiliently retaining the tire supporting plates in their outermostpositions.

Another object is to provide a spring wheel of this character which willbe highly eflicient and effective in use and which may be readily andcheaply manufactured.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partswhich will be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illus tratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a fragmentary sideelevation of a wheel constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2, is across sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8, isa plan view,showing several of the lower plates connected by the parallel connectingchains. Fig. 4, is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a slightly modifiedform of my invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1indicates the flat plates which are secured transversely upon the wheelrim 2 and extend beyond either side of said rim and are provided withthe openings 3 adjacent their opposite ends, the purpose of which willpresently appear.

Positioned outwardly of and parallel to the plates 1 are the outer tirecarrying plates 4 having the outwardly directed flanges 5 upon theiropposite ends between which the rubber tire 6 is received.

The inner plates 1 are connected adjacent their opposite ends by thespaced chains 7, each plate 1 being positioned through one link of eachchain, as clearly shown on the drawings. The opposite ends of each plate4 are connected with the corresponding ends of the inner plate 1opposite the same by means of the toggle joints 8, the inner ends of theplates forming each toggle joint being connected by a spring hinge 8",while the outer or free ends of said plates are hinged respectively, tothe outer plates 4 and inner plates 1, as shown at 9 and 10,respectively.

It will be understood that each hinge joint 8 is provided with a spring8 which tends to resiliently retain the sections 8 of thehinge joint inthe relative position shown in Fig. 4. The outer plates 4 areresiliently retained n their outer positions and spaced from the innerplates 1, by means of the coil springs 11 and.12 positioned around theplungers 13 above and below the lower plates 1 and rim 2. The outer endsof the plungers 13 are secured to the inner faces 'of certain of theouter plates 4 and said plungers extend through the openings 3 in theinner plates 1, it being understoodthat suitable openings are providedthrough the rim 2, and that the openings 3 in the inner plates 1 are in-Wardly of the edges of said rim.

1 have provided a series of shorter plungers 14 secured by their outerends to the lnner faces of the remaining outer plates 4 and alternatingwith the longer plungers 13, said shorter plungers 14 having the springs15 engaged therearound between the outer plates 4 and inner plates 1, itbeing understood that the inner ends of the plungers 14 are engaged insuitable openings provided in the inner plates 1 opposite the outerplates by which said shorter plungers are carried and in the rim 2.

It will be seen that the springs 11 and 12 will resiliently retain theouter plates 4 and the tire 6 in proper position and will absorb allshocks incident to the tire 6 engaging a stone or other obstruction orengaging in a depressed portion or sunken portion of the road. It willalso be seen that owing to the length of the plungers 13 and thestrength of the springs 11 and 12, the central hinges of thetoggle-joint 8 will be normally retained outwardly of the opposite ends9 and 10 of said toggle joint, as clearly shown on the drawings and thepurpose of which will clearly be apparent. It

e be evident that the operation of the parts Will also be understoodthat the plungers 13 are arranged in pairs,,two plungers being carriedby each outerplate 4.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 I have shown each outer plate 4: ascarrying only one plunger 13 secured near the center of the plateandextending through the central opening 8 in the corresponding innerplate 10 and through a communicating opening 2 in the rim 2. Thearrangement of the springs 11 and 12 is the same, however, as in thepreferred form and it will will be substantially the same as in the formin which two plungers are carried by each plate 4:.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1 A spring wheelcomprising the combinationwith a rim, of transverse inner platespositioned across the rim chains upon opposit-e sides of the rim forconnecting the sinner plates, the ends of each inner plate low the outerplates, jointed hinge plates secured to the outer extremities of theinner plates and the depending edges of the flanges at the opposite endsof the outer plates, aftread member engaged upon the outer platesbetween the flanges thereof, pins carried by the outer plates andengaged through the inner plates and the rim, and

springs engaged around the'pins and bear 1 mg agalnst the inner face ofthe T1111 and the outer faces of the inner plates. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presenceoftwo'witnesses.

THORNTON WOODROW HAWLEY. Witnesses: NV. R. BRooKs, WV. J. As-NnW.

each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). G.

